Nyah Leveretter Could Be Kentucky WBB’s Rim Protector

The Kentucky Women’s Basketball Team has no shortage of experience returning for this upcoming season, nonetheless, that doesn’t mean new players can’t step up. One player to undoubtedly keep an eye on is Nyah Leveretter.

The 6-foot-3 forward is an exciting prospect for all the obvious reasons. From impressive height to her proven athleticism, Leveretter has all the tools to be a legitimate contributor this upcoming season. But first, let’s examine how much she contributed during her freshman campaign.

Leveretter was one of only four Wildcats to average less than 10 minutes per game during the 2020-2021 season. On the bright side, Leveretter led that same group in rebounds and blocks per game; two categories the ‘Cats need serious help in.

Admittedly, this still isn’t saying much, but that doesn’t mean Big Blue Nation shouldn’t be getting excited about this up-and-coming ‘Cat. Although Leveretter was never a huge factor deep in the season, she certainly had shining moments during Kentucky’s non-conference schedule.

In the ‘Cats’ contest against Marshall last season, Leveretter snagged a stellar eight boards. For reference, this was the same amount as Kentucky’s starting big Dre’Una Edwards and more than 6-foot-4 Olivia Owens.

Only 10 days later, Leveretter put her potential on display again. Going up against Wofford, Leveretter brought down a whopping nine rebounds along with seven points. It was obvious, Leveretter could play. So, why’d she seemingly vanish into thin air during conference play?

To put it plainly, Leveretter was not strong enough to be competing against high-level opponents… Yet. While she may have been able to hang in there with teams like Wofford and Marshall, SEC opponents were on a different level.

Leveretter could have been just as gifted as Edwards, Owens and Tatyana Wyatt, but she could never touch the court as much as them due to a simple case of freshman frailty. Thankfully for BBN, Leveretter is no longer a freshman.

With the offseason addition of strength and conditioning coach Lee Taylor, Leveretter could come into this season virtually unrecognizable. If that’s the case, prepare for the Wildcats’ frontcourt to follow suit.

Knowing teams like South Carolina more than doubled Kentucky’s block total last season, it’s obvious the ‘Cats are in dire need of paint protection. Nyah Leveretter may be just the person for the job. Due to wild length and the ability to jump out of the gym, prepare to see Leveretter become Kentucky’s premier shot blocker this upcoming season.

Previous Player Spotlights:

Olivia Owens

Jazmine Massengill

Blair Green

Treasure Hunt

Dre’Una Edwards

Robyn Benton